The Society of Southwestern Authors 2008 Writing Contest
Deadline May 31, 2008

Categories: Short Story - 2,500 words max Short Story for Children Ages 6-12 (Michael LaCapa Award presented to First Place Winner) - 1,500 words max Personal Essay/Memoir - 2,500 words max Poetry - 40 lines max

Prizes Awarded In Each Category: 1st: $300 2nd: $150 3rd: $75 Honorable mentions: $25 Commendation (non-monetary -     only name and title printed in Storyteller

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (read carefully to prevent disqualification)

1. DO NOT put your name on any part of the manuscript. NO COVER SHEETS.
2. Format: Entries must be double-spaced on one side of White 8.5" x 11" bond paper, one-inch margins, 12 pt. Times New Roman or Courier font, black ink only. Poetry: stanzas single-spaced, if applicable.
3. "Entry" mean ONE (1) individual piece of work. Send **THREE** copies of each entry.
4. Each story, poem, or personal essay must be accompanied by an OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM. An Entry Form is available on-line or in PDF form.
5. NO photographs or artwork of ANY kind.
6. Title must appear on every page - upper left hand corner.
7. Consecutive Page numbers - upper right hand corner of each page.
8. Total word count - (strictly adhered to): placed on upper right hand corner of page 1 ONLY.
9. Staple together pages of individual entries. DO NOT use paperclip.
10. DEADLINE: Postmarked on or before May 31, 2008.   NO EMAIL SUBMISSIONS!
    Entries postmarked after deadline date will be disqualified and returned to sender, unopened.
11. All entries must be your original work and previously unpublished. NO simultaneous submissions.
12. Entry fee: $10 per entry; nonrefundable. Entries will not be returned. For confirmation of receipt of your entry, enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard.
13. Use regular mail-ALL Certified or Special Deliver mail will be returned to sender unopened.
14. Appraisals (critiques): available for an additional $25 per entry.
    For each appraisal requested, you must enclose a stamped, self-addressed business-size envelope, 4 copies of the entry, and 2 copies of the entry form. SEE ENTRY FORM.

Winners will be announced at the October 19, 2008 Awards Luncheon

Winners will be notified by October 1, 2008. If you have not been notified that you are a winner, you may market your entry elsewhere. All winning entries will be published in SSA's The Story Teller 2008. After October 19, 2008, names of the winners and the titles of their entries will be posted on the SSA Website.

For more information, please email Mary Ann Hutchison: douglashutchison@comcast.net

Entry forms can be printed from one of the links below.
Additional forms are also available by sending a stamped,
self-addressed envelope to 2008 SSA Writing Contest,
PO Box 35484, Tucson, AZ 85740-5484.